Getting Health Insurance Coverage in Ohio during the COVID-19 Crisis
by Carly Battaglia M.Ed., LPCC
In the midst of the current pandemic, some may find themselves suddenly without health insurance coverage due to job loss. The good news is that there are more options for getting coverage currently than there has been in past economic crises. Here are some of them:
• COBRA Coverage
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) allows you to keep your workplace coverage for as long as 18 months. However, this can be pretty pricey. Your previous employer may be willing to subsidize some of the monthly cost for a period. Reaching out to them will help you determine if this is a good option for you.
• Medicaid
If your household’s monthly income is now below a certain threshold—around $1,400 for a single person or $2,950 monthly for a family of four—you most likely qualify for Medicaid. Under Obamacare, Ohio is one of 36 states that allows this. Visit www.benefits.ohio.gov for more information.
• Affordable Care Act Marketplace Plans
If your monthly income is low enough to qualify for Medicaid but you expect your annual income to be higher than the abovementioned income thresholds, this option may make sense for you. Coverage is subsidized on a sliding scale according to income, and there are several choices of plan in most markets. Visit www.healthcare.gov for more information.
Source:
Sanger-Katz, M. & Abelson, R. (2020). How to get health insurance if you’re worried about Coronavirus or have lost your job. The New York Times. Retrieved 26 March, 2020 from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/upshot/coronavirus-health-insurance-faq.html?0p19G=3248